Christmas tree support



Dec. 19, 1950 L. s. GROAT CHRISTMAS TREE SUPPORT Filed Feb. 12, 1949 IN VEN TOR. 15571995 67mm mh t Patented Dec. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHRISTMAS TREE SUPPORT Lester S. Groat, Omaha, Nebr.

Application February 12, 1949, Serial No. 76,100

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to decorations and more particularly to ornaments such as are used during the Yuletide season and in connection with Christmas trees.

It is an object of the invention to provide a support for a Christmas tree which is so constructed that the tree may be maintained vertically with respect to a horizontal floor of a dwelling or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new article of manufacture which may be employed cooperatively with a tree supporting platform for aiding a maintenance of a Christmas tree disposed in a vertical direction upon said platform while at the same time the article conceals the comparatively crude appearance of the lower portion or stump of said tree from vievu A further object of the invention is to provide a device for the above described purpose which is so constructed that it may be readily locked about the stump of a Christmas tree in a position of use for cooperation with a horizontally disposed Christmas tree supporting platform.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from the following detailed description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of the new article and showing it cooperatively assembled about the stump or base portion of a Christmas tree, certain portions of the trunk of the said tree being broken away and other portions showing in section, the main body portion of said tree being represented by dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken substantially upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing the platform employed in plan.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the new article of manufacture shown in Figures 1 and 2, together with Figures 4 through 7.

Figure 4 is a transverse section of the said article, the View being taken on line :l4 of Figure 6, said view being turned at a right angle with respect to the showing thereof in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the said article and Figure 6 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 7 depicts a broken away fragmental portion of the said article, certain portions thereof showing in section, the view being taken along the dotted line 1-1 of Figure 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description and first to Figure 2, the new device includes a platform generally indicated at Hi. The platform is formed of two members 12 and I4 arranged in cruciform.

As shown in Figure l, the member 52 of the platform is partially embedded in the member l4 thereof, said parts l2 and 14 being morticed together so that the ends of the arms of the cross will each bear evenly on a flat surface such as a floor of a dwelling or the like.

A screw or similar keeper It is disposed through the mortise and tenon jointed portion of the platform for holding the members l2 and E4 together at the time the threaded end of said screw is engaged in the stump portion or lower end portion [8 of the trunk 20 of a Christmas tree 22.

It will be seen that the platform may be readily taken apart and the parts thereof nested togather for compact storage at times when the device is not in use and also readily assembled in a horizontal position on the said floor of a dwelling or upon a horizontally disposed table top or the like.

The new device further includes the new article of manufacture which is preferably of approximately bell-shape in elevation, as best shown in Figure 3. The said article is generally indicated at 24 and includes oppositely disposed like half portions 26 and 28 which are adapted to be joined together by a means later described.

At times when the two half portions 26 and 28 are in juxtaposition, as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, an open outwardly flared bottom is provided as best shown in Figure 5. An aperture is also provided at the said time at the otherwise closed and restricted top of the said article, said aperture being of the approximate diameter of a stump I8 of the Christmas tree 22. The aperture to is formed of two oppositely disposed notches A and B provided in the closed and restricted top of the bell at times when the portions 26 and 28 are juxtaposed, as shown in Figure 2 and as indicated in Figures 4 and 6. It will be understood that after the Christmas tree is attached to the platform by the securing means or screw l5 that the new article may be readily placed about the lower end portion or stump of the tree for concealing the said stump while at the same time, since the lower annular edges 32 and 34 of the half portions 26 and 28, respectively, bear against the platform It and since the walls of the notches A and B snugly each receive a one half portion of the diameter of said stump that the device 24 cooperates with the said platform and the keeper I6 in a supporting of the Christmas tree 22 in a vertical direction and at times when the half portions 26 and 28 are locked together by a. means 3 now to be described. It will be understood that the half portions 26 and 28 are molded preferably of a suitable plastic material which is initially flaccid and having a characteristic that after being removed from the mold, the said material becomes endurate, as is essential for the said purpose. The half portions 26 and 28 may also be molded of papier-mache or the like or of laminations of paper secured together by cementitious material and when it is so desired, a suitable ornamental decoration may be imprinted or molded in the outer surfaces of the half portions 26 and 28. Also, the said half portions after becoming hardened may be coated with a cemen= titious material and dusted with grains of Christmas tree material of variegated colors thereby causing the said colored material to adhere to the half portions, the said Christmas tree material having a characteristic that the said grains refract and reflect light rays whereby the new article scintillates at times when the Christmas tree is artificially lighted during use.

During a molding of the member 58 and adjacent to the edge 35 thereof, a detent 38 is provided which, during use, is disposed vertically, as best shown in Figure l. The detent is attaohed to the member 28 and consists of a length of heavy wire bent to a substantially C-shape configuration as best shown in Figure 5. The free ends of the said wire are each further bent to dispose the said free end portions approximately at a right angle with respect to the main body portion of the detent. The free ends are represented by the dotted lines 46 in Figure 7 and as there shown, said ends are embedded in the wall of the hollow member 28 for anchoring the main body portion of the detent 38 away from the adjacent inner wall of the member 23 during a molding of the latter.

As best shown in Figures 5 and 7-, a latch is employed for cooperation with the detent 38. The latch has a main body portion :2 being formed of a single length of heavy spring brass wire. An end portion 5 of the said wire is bent at a right angle to the main body portion 132 therecf as indicated at (i i in'Figure 7. From the portion it, the wire is furth t in approrei mate parallelism with the ...-n y portion the said end portion 45 being embedded in the half portion'26 during a molding of the latter and in amanner so that the main body portion Q2 of the latch is disposed away from the inner annular wall of the half portion 26 of the new article. The other and free end of the latch is bent to provide a hook 435, said hook being normally disposed to ward the inner wall of the bell a distance greater than the distance which the detent 38 extends away from the inner wall of the member 28.

From the hook portion 58, the said wire e52- tends an appreciable distance outwardly providing an outstanding guide portion as best shown in Figure 7 and it will be understood that at times when the half portions of the hell are moved into approximate abutted relation with respect to each "other that the portion 55 of the latch guides the hook 58 over the detent 38 whereupon the inherent resiliency of the latch causes the hook 48 to engage the detent 33-, as shown in Figure '7, for locking the two half portions 26 and 28 together at one side of the new article 24.

As best shown in Figure 5, at the other sides of the said half portions of the article, the said half portions are each respectively provided with a detent and a latch which are of the same construction and operation as above described with the exception that, as best shown in Figure 5, the detent is attached to the half portion 26 of the bell and the latch to the half portion 28 thereof, whereby both half portions of the bell become locked together about the trunk 20 of the Christmas tree for aiding in the support of the latter in a vertical direction during use.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a Christmas tree support constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as lim iting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as claimed.

I claim:

1. A device for the purpose described comprising a platform adapted to be disposed horizontally on the fioor of a dwelling or the like, means for securing an end portion of the trunk of a Christmas tree to said platform, an approximately bell-shape hollow member having an open bottom and a closed top, said member being of two-piece construction, each of said pieces being provided with a notch at said top for receiving a half portion of the diameter of said trunk between the walls of said notches, a detent on an inner Wall of each half portion, and a resilient hook for each detent on each said inner said hooks being adapted to engage their respective detents at times when said half portions are juxtaposed on said platform about trunk.

2. An article of manufacture for use with a Christmas tree comprising two like half portions adapted to be juxtaposed and providing a substantially hollow article having an open flared bottom and a closed restricted top, the tops of said half portions each being provided with a notch for receiving between the walls of said notches a trunk portion of said tree at times when said half portions are juxtaposed, a detent on the inner wall. of each half portion, and resilient hooks on said inner walls arranged to engage said detents respectively for locking said half portions together.

LESTER S. GROAT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 407,593 HOilillgS July 23, 1889 1,598,016 Runser Aug. 31, 1926 1,598,362 Brice Aug. 31, 1926 1,906,293 Watows lii Ma 2, 1933 1,931,376 Cosner 'Oct. 17, 1933 

